A new memorial was also unveiled at the unit's headquarter building -- a battlefield cross.

"It has two purposes - to honor and pay respect to the fallen heroes of the brigade who perished while serving their nation in Iraq, and to remind each soldier of the brigade to remember a fallen comrade and warrior who fell while serving with the brigade in the dangerous conditions of war," Gayhart said.

The new memorial includes brass shell casings from brigade weapons gathered off the battlefield in northern Iraq.